Redis - server closed the connection / can't connect - node.js

Question

I'm trying to get redis running locally. It works fine sometimes, but sometimes I have this problem when starting it. It appears to start fine, but then I can't make any connections to it or use the command line tool. I can't understand why there would be no errors when starting redis, it says its running on 6379, but won't respond on that port.
Toms-MBP:tinder-art tomchambers$ redis-server
[86521] 23 Apr 18:37:22.427 # Warning: no config file specified, using the default config. In order to specify a config file use redis-server /path/to/redis.conf
[86521] 23 Apr 18:37:22.429 * Increased maximum number of open files to 10032 (it was originally set to 256).
_._
_.-``__ ''-._
_.-`` `. `_. ''-._ Redis 2.8.19 (00000000/0) 64 bit
.-`` .-```. ```\/ _.,_ ''-._
( ' , .-` | `, ) Running in stand alone mode
|`-._`-...-` __...-.``-._|'` _.-'| Port: 6379
| `-._ `._ / _.-' | PID: 86521
`-._ `-._ `-./ _.-' _.-'
|`-._`-._ `-.__.-' _.-'_.-'|
| `-._`-._ _.-'_.-' | http://redis.io
`-._ `-._`-.__.-'_.-' _.-'
|`-._`-._ `-.__.-' _.-'_.-'|
| `-._`-._ _.-'_.-' |
`-._ `-._`-.__.-'_.-' _.-'
`-._ `-.__.-' _.-'
`-._ _.-'
`-.__.-'
[86521] 23 Apr 18:37:22.431 # Server started, Redis version 2.8.19
[86521] 23 Apr 18:37:22.432 * DB loaded from disk: 0.000 seconds
[86521] 23 Apr 18:37:22.432 * The server is now ready to accept connections on port 6379
Toms-MBP:tinder-art tomchambers$ redis-cli monitor
Error: Server closed the connection
^CToms-MBP:tinder-art tomchambers$ node app.js
Connecting to local redis
Connecting to local redis
Server started 3000
Redis error: [Error: Ready check failed: Redis connection to 127.0.0.1:6379 failed - read ECONNRESET]
Redis error: [Error: Redis connection to 127.0.0.1:6379 failed - read ECONNRESET]
Redis error: [Error: Ready check failed: Redis connection to 127.0.0.1:6379 failed - read ECONNRESET]
Redis error: [Error: Redis connection to 127.0.0.1:6379 failed - read ECONNRESET]
Redis error: [Error: Ready check failed: Redis connection gone from end event.]
Redis error: [Error: Ready check failed: Redis connection gone from end event.]
Redis error: [Error: Ready check failed: Redis connection gone from end event.]
Redis error: [Error: Ready check failed: Redis connection gone from end event.]
Redis error: [Error: Ready check failed: Redis connection gone from end event.]